New Delhi: Political parties on Tuesday welcomed the Supreme Court ruling on ensuring completion of trials against MPs and MLAs in one year in criminal cases.
While main opposition BJP hailed it as an order that strikes a balance, Congress cheered the fact that the Supreme Court had put spotlight on the issue of speedy trial.
Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said the existing laws, which provide for disqualification of elected representatives and debar people from contesting elections only upon conviction, had led to a disconnect between the legal requirement and public opinion.
The court order, he said, respects the principle that a person is presumed to be innocent till held guilty and also provides a filter against motivated charge sheets.
"It doesn`t debar persons on being merely charged. At the same time no MP or MLA has a right to a delayed trial. Since he holds a public office, he must be like Caesar`s wife beyond suspicion," said the noted lawyer.
Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said his party full backs and supports the SC judgement as the lack of speedy trial was the "scourge of delay" in completion of the legal process and remained a "blot" on the otherwise spotless legal system.
He said the apex court has applied internal checks on courts. "We hope that this time limit of one year is respected and implemented," he said.
